Why I Don’t Want to Send Her (Back) To School
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** I originally removed this post after extreme backlash from the school. I am returning the post to my blog because it’s my opinion and I have the right to express it and I will not be bullied by veiled threats.
** 9/2011 update on Advocacy and Parental Involvement in Schools
I’m dreading sending my girls back to school.
In JJ’s class, the art activities are something like this: A pre-cut scarecrow with pre-cut material and googly eyes at a “center” with a teacher’s helper to tell the kids exactly where to glue the material and eyes. All the scarecrows look exactly the same.
This is only one of the daily centers where in my opinion, there is one differentiated activity which is the guided reading group that meets with the teacher. (Differentiated meaning adjusted to what the child know and needs to know.) The rest of the centers are 1) cut and paste 2) listening to a book on tape 3) “art” activity where each child is asked to follow the teacher’s directions, not think for themselves and 4) a worksheet. This happens everyday. Since the start of school.
When I volunteer during the morning centers, I love getting to know the little cuties but I’m shocked at the dullness of this reading rotation.
My daughter doesn’t like school except for recess, could she be as bored as me? She already knows her letters, and already could cut with scissors and use glue long before kindergarten. She’s ready to learn something new. She needs a classroom that differentiates for her needs AND that doesn’t make her do their way of art. (Aren’t we beyond this kind of instruction? – I remember this as an example of what not to do in education classes.)
I’m a teacher. I get how challenging a classroom full of kids at different levels can be . . . but it is possible.
I want JJ to love learning and thinking. I want her to be challenged to imagine and use her imagination in school.
But, except for the socialization, she might as well be home with me all day.
And, frankly I’m considering my options.
Unfortunately, I do this every year and we’ve already moved neighborhoods and schools once. Do we move again in hopes of the holy grail of good education? or is it an impossible dream?
My other daughter (AJ)went from above grade level (4s) in Kindergarten with an amazing, gifted and experienced teacher only to drop below proficient by the end of first grade (2s) because she didn’t have a strong teacher. AJ is still catching up two years later.
This month, let’s talk about education. Let’s talk about educational change (perhaps you’ve read Ralph Fletcher’s Walking Trees?) and what we want for our children’s education. What makes a good teacher anyway? What about a good curriculum and standards? What makes a good learning environment for a classroom – let’s get specific!
If you think you’d like me to consider a guest post from you, email me at Melissa@imaginationsoup.net and I’ll send you my criteria for a guest post. Otherwise, please comment as much as you can to share your opinions!
My next post, we’ll look at teachers – good ones. How do you know if the teacher is good? Be ready to weigh in!
What do you think about my situation? What would you do if you were me? Has this happened to you?
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I have 5 children – 10-2 – am a former public school teacher and all I can say is homeschool, homeschool, homeschool! There are sooo many options out there and homeschooling doesn’t have to look anything like school. You don’t have to sit at the kitchen table or a desk and do curriculum stuff. Learning happens all the time. You have some wonderful resources and there is so much out there! You could build upon the wonderful relationship with your daughter and she would benefit from it as would you.
I know how you are all feeling about sending your kids to public schools, do not fret, your children are very much ahead of other kids because you are reading, playing, and communicating with your child, as indicated by the love expressed on this blog. Just be sure they are still getting the best from you, don’t show your concerns to your child. Pay attention to what they are learning.
Beware of the teacher that tells you they do not need to learn math because of caculators, or to learn cursive because of computors. Too much of basic education is being forgotten about because of the gadget and games.
I raised 3 boys and have a grandson in school, the experiences I had were 50/50, it is going better for the grand. I aslo do daycare and see some good things from the schools, also some of the not so good. Just take it day to day and don’t worry too much. If homeschooling is your thing for your kids, make sure they get plenty of social activities, and do it with much LOVE
Thanks, Lynn. I’m trying not to fret. Today is a better day. Appreciate your words of encouragement.
I knew that I was missing something in my reader when I accidentally hit mark all as read! This is one that I saw and it took me a while to figure out where it went! I loved this post and I am really looking forward to your thoughts this month. I have some pretty strong opinions about the state of education these days and even though my son is one of the best schools in the state, I am still not sure if this is the right place for him academically.
BTW, I have a JJ, too! 🙂
I want to hear your strong opinions – care to share!?
I am a teacher, too. I taught 6 years out of college, then stayed home 21 years with my 3 children. I homeschooled beginning with 1st grade after my oldest went to K. She was so quiet, she got the citizenship award! All three graduated from college, one from grad school, and all are married. I went back to the public school classroom and have been there 10 years now. Almost every day I am thankful my kids had the privilege to homeschool. It was a joy to teach them, and they taught me! As far as socialization, it is the best! You pick who to invite over.You can surround your children with all ages & good influences. All three of my children are leaders. They love learning, and so do I! Could go on and on……
Well, we opted for another route. My oldest (now in third grade) attended K and 1st at a private school. We really liked it, but the distance and cost became an issue, so we looked for the next best option. We are not of public school mold around here, and I just couldn’t fathom sending my daughter to school 5 days a week, 7 hours a day, where the almighty standardized testing is king. So we gathered curriculum and started homeschooling for second grade. My younger one just turned 5 in August and started kindergarten, also homeschooled. As a summer boy, I would be apparently doing him a disservice by sending him to kindergarten, per conventional wisdom, and really, he wouldn’t enjoy all those hours away, so I homeschool him too. We work 4 days a week, between 1.5 (my son) and about 3 hours (my daughter) on a given day. The rest of the time is theirs to have fun and pursue their own interests. They take taekwondo, do church classes, my daughter is a Brownie, they play sports, they ride their bikes and scooters all afternoon while the streets are nice and quiet, they play with friends, we go to lunches and movies when all is quiet. I honestly would not change it for anything.
I read this post in the car, driving home from a 3 week long vacation in Canada (something we couldn’t do as easily in public school) and ended up writing my own from this prompt:
http://nouveausoccermom.blogspot.com/2011/01/one-of-many-reasons-why-we-homeschool.html